mcdowell mileage estimate

[trekkin_gecko]

can someone give me an estimate of the mileage for this hike starting at gateway center:

gateway loop, bell pass trail, windmill, east end, tom's thumb, windgate, gateway loop

i don't have the right set of maps at my fingertips
if anyone can point me to a triplog of this hike or a gps route, i'd appreciate it
have looked, but don't see this exact combination
i've done the windgate-bell loop and the tom's thumb-windgate loop from the north side, so i'm familiar with the trails
thinking it would be best to go counter-clockwise as i prefer to ascend steep and descend moderate trails
thanks in advance for any feedback
also thinking a sunrise start time would be in order

[The_Eagle]

11-12 miles. East End is steep going up that way, and it's steep going down the Toms Thumb side also. The only other part that's a bit steep is the final 1/2 mile climb to Bell Pass.

[trekkin_gecko]

that seems about right
roughly 3.5 to bell pass, 2.5 to tom's thumb, 5.5 back down

[AndreyP]

12.0 miles
I've done that clockwise including going to Lookout point that adds 1.0 mi.
http://hikearizona.com/x.php?I=4&ZTN=2033&UID=51799

[trekkin_gecko]

perfect - thanks for the link to your triplog

[johnlp]

If you start from the Horseshoe trailhead you don't have to wait for them to open up the gateway center (the gate is closed at night), and you can get an earlier start. I'm not sure what time they open the gate, but it's later than the time I like to start hiking.

[AndreyP]

Gates open at 4:49am, close at 7:33 pm.
Gate schedule is posted on the official website here.

[nonot]

I did something kinda close to that...trim off what you don't want to do.

http://hikearizona.com/location_g.php?GPS=7323

[neilends]

If you start from the Horseshoe trailhead you don't have to wait for them to open up the gateway center (the gate is closed at night), and you can get an earlier start. I'm not sure what time they open the gate, but it's later than the time I like to start hiking.

Reviving this old thread to ask a related question, because in a few months I won't be able to do my 5:30am hikes if I depend on the gate closure. Is the Horseshoe TH still open to the public? Is the 104th Street TH constantly open also?

And, is it illegal to hike in the park before sunrise? Not a big deal for one hike maybe, but I'm hitting this trail at least 2 times a week.

[The_Eagle]

@neilends
Website says Sunrise to Sunset.
There is no gate to keep you from parking at the 104th st TH.
I've been in that lot numerous times after dark... never before sunrise.

[neilends]

Maybe I have my solution then.

On a totally unrelated topic, I've never night hiked. Do you use a headlamp?

[The_Eagle]

@neilends
Until the time that my eyes are surgically changed to Night Vision ... Yep, good ole' headlamp works just fine.

[azbackpackr]

I'll jump in here. My advice is to experiment with NOT using the headlamp. After about 10 minutes you may be amazed at the fact you can hike just fine without it. But the minute you turn it back on, away goes your night vision.

[SpiderLegs]

As a quick aside, found out if you use a headlamp that spotlighting deer really works. Was out hiking and saw a few pair of eyes just standing there looking at me. Was able to get within 10 feet of the deer before they finally scampered off.

[outdoor_lover]

My advice is to experiment with NOT using the headlamp. After about 10 minutes you may be amazed at the fact you can hike just fine without it.

Probably great advice if it wasn't Rattlesnake Season...That first 10 minutes could really end up sucking....You may not get to finish your Hike as planned.... ;)

[azbackpackr]

You can see the snakes, too, once your night vision has kicked in. I do see your point, though. And not everyone has great night vision.

[big_load]

I like an occasional night hike. If there's enough moon, I try to leave my headlamp off, but often I need it, especially in rough or unfamiliar terrain. One night I was walking on the road around the lake here at home, unlighted in the thick woods on a moonless night. It was so dark that I could only tell that I was still on the road when I got an unexpected mouthful of deer hair. I'm sure the browsing deer didn't think I'd be dumb enough to walk right into it, but it probably didn't realize how much better it could see than I could.

[azbackpackr]

I like an occasional night hike. If there's enough moon, I try to leave my headlamp off, but often I need it, especially in rough or unfamiliar terrain. One night I was walking on the road around the lake here at home, unlighted in the thick woods on a moonless night. It was so dark that I could only tell that I was still on the road when I got an unexpected mouthful of deer hair. I'm sure the browsing deer didn't think I'd be dumb enough to walk right into it, but it probably didn't realize how much better it could see than I could.

[neilends]

I literally LOLd at the deer story there.

I'm somehow still 20/20 but the rattler issue may be a good reason not to night hike in the mornings. When's rattler season anyway, if there is such a thing?

[big_load]

@neilendsI must have posted that story on HAZ before, but it remains one of my weirdest wildlife encounters. You'd probably like the one about getting the bear out of my garage.